Saturday, May 21, 2011

The first rapture

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You want a rapture, I'll give you a Biblical rapture.
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"Elijah ascends to heaven" by Jamal Dawani
at Mamilla Mall exhibit of Bible story sculpture
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2 Kings 2: 1-12

1 Now when the LORD was about to take Eli'jah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Eli'jah and Eli'sha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 And Eli'jah said to Eli'sha, "Tarry here, I pray you; for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel." But Eli'sha said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. 3 And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Eli'sha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?" And he said, "Yes, I know it; hold your peace."
. . . 7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Eli'jah took his mantle, and rolled it up, and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.
.9 When they had crossed, Eli'jah said to Eli'sha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you." And Eli'sha said, "I pray you, let me inherit a double share of your spirit." 10 And he said, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if you do not see me, it shall not be so."
.11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Eli'jah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Eli'sha saw it and he cried, "My father, my father! the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!"
And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and rent them in two pieces.
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17 comments:

  1. Leif HagenMay 21, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    I haven't heard much about the rapture for today....I must not have been listening very well? I'm still here - hope I'm not the only one....

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  2. Reader WilMay 21, 2011 at 4:10 PM

    Hi Dina! This story is beautiful and different from the stories I read. Y ou wrote about the first rapture. So how many raptures are there! Both prophets are wellknown and the stories about them were amomg the best in the Bible. The children at school always liked them very much and I liked to tell them as well. Have a great weekend!

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  3. zaktonMay 21, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    Interesting sculpture.

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  4. KathyMay 21, 2011 at 5:15 PM

    This poignant account of these two prophets is one of my favorite. Imagine, to be swept away by horses of fire! Elisha must have had dreams of that for the rest of his life. It's an amazing sculpture, Dina, you find such marvelous things to share with your readers, thank you. :)

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  5. Come Away With MeMay 21, 2011 at 6:33 PM

    Read the "rapture" link....he would be a Californian! We have always been known for our nutty characters here.... I like your Biblical rapture much better...

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  6. Petrea BurchardMay 21, 2011 at 7:06 PM

    It's a beautiful story. I feel sorry for people today who desire such things and can't enjoy the heaven we have here on earth. Certainly there is hell here, too.

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  7. VPMay 21, 2011 at 11:03 PM

    I have even seen some bad movies about the coming rapture, with people disappearing and the sinners left behind, but I did not know much about the biblical one. Thanks for explaining it!

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  8. DinaMay 21, 2011 at 11:19 PM

    Shalom friends. Glad you are still here.

    VP and Wil, a caveat: Just for today I used the word rapture but in its dictionary meaning:
    "Rapture" is an English noun derived from the Latin verb rapiō, with a literal meaning of "I catch up" "or "I snatch"

    but as a concept The Rapture is a solely Christian idea
    (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture ).

    Jews would not talk about Elijah's being taken up as a "rapture," I'm quite sure.

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  9. crystalMay 21, 2011 at 11:33 PM

    I haven't read much about the rapture that was supposed to take place today, but it reminds me of an old movie with David Duchovny - The Rapture - rather depressing ;)

    Neat statue!

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  10. FranciscaMay 22, 2011 at 12:30 AM

    For me, the 21st has come and gone and I'm still here. :-)

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  11. KayMay 22, 2011 at 1:37 AM

    We heard about that rapture thing last night on the news. People actually were preparing for the end and getting rid of their belongings. That's really, really sad.

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  12. AnonymousMay 22, 2011 at 2:35 AM

    How impressive an entry.



    Please have a good Sunday.

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  13. SuzanneMay 22, 2011 at 3:27 AM

    Well, today has almost come and gone in the US and in some countries it is tomorrow already. Guess that's why it's called a prediction.

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  14. TaniaMay 22, 2011 at 11:34 AM

    I did not see any rapture yesterday..was in the kayak without a life jacket, in case:-)
    I like the sculpture and the story.

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  15. Dr. DaveMay 22, 2011 at 5:56 PM

    Wonderful post!!
    Tradition holds that Elijah's "Rapture" took place on what is the Jordanian side of the river, as the text indicates, not far from the traditional baptismal place of Jesus (Bethany beyond Jordan). The remains of the Byzantine era church and caves (Tell Mar Elias) can be visited today. If you are lucky, you will see one of the many huge whirlwinds (dust devils) cutting across the dry sands of the Zhor that are no doubt the writer's model for the one that stole the prophet!

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  16. KatneyMay 22, 2011 at 8:51 PM

    Swing low, sweet chariot, comin' for to carry me home!

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  17. spacedlawMay 23, 2011 at 8:38 AM

    They knew how to conduct these things back then!

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